Fat liberation Coaching
that’s neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ affirming too
I center fat / plus-size parents, caregivers, and children, knowing that weight stigma and anti-fat bias are especially prevalent in medical settings, in fertility care, in prenatal and in pediatric health care.
Fat liberation coaching supports you with reflective, attachment-based, and fat positive parenting strategies. I want to help you feel secure in your values as you care for children through the challenges of anti-fat bias and through the joyful celebrations.
Fat Liberation Coaching
As someone who’s worked with folks becoming parents in the therapy room for the last two decades, I’m excited to expand my offerings to include coaching with adults anywhere in the United States who are family building or parenting and wanting support to practice fat liberation.
Fat liberation is more than body positivity. In fat liberation, we recognize the
the social, cultural, and political context of being fat
that the people at the highest weights experience the most discrimination
that weight stigma affects people’s access to health care, jobs, schools, travel, and other systems
the size of someone's body does not determine their worth or tell us anything about their health
anti-fatness is intertwined with anti-Blackness and so combatting anti-fat bias must also be grounded in anti-racist practices
we cannot ignore the intersection of our other identities like race, gender identity, sexuality, disability status, neurodivergence, and other identities
fat discrimination can be deadly
Fat liberation celebrates size diversity and fights for equal rights and access for fat people.
People come to me for coaching when they’re wanting
guidance and support through the family building process that is fat positive & queer and neurodivergent affirming
a partner in the practice of good enough parenting grounded in fat liberation
support navigating and advocating for yourself in fat-phobic medical, mental health, educational systems and other institutions
a sounding board and resources for addressing experiences of weight stigma
grounding in fat liberation and Body Trust® to counteract the pervasive messaging of GLP-1s
strategies for managing executive functioning challenges
accountability in practicing new ways of being or meeting your needs
Coaching Logistics
Who’s Coaching For
I work with women & trans, non-binary, gender expansive adults. Part of our initial consultation will be making sure your goals are suited to coaching and not better met in therapy. If I feel like the scope of the work is more aligned with therapy, I will share appropriate referrals.
Length & Frequency of Meetings
Coaching sessions are 50 minutes and meetings typically happen weekly, twice a month, or monthly. Together, we’ll develop a plan for meetings based on your unique goals.
Location
We can meet virtually on zoom or in my office in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. Coaching clients can be located anywhere in the world.
Investment
Coaching is $250/session and often short-term. After the initial session, you can choose to continue paying per meeting, or you can buy a package of 4 coaching sessions for $900 to be used within 3 months of purchase.
What’s the difference between therapy & coaching?
therapy
Therapy is a regulated offering by licensed therapists with a graduate degree in a mental health field, usually involving a diagnostic assessment, interventions guided by therapeutic frameworks to treat emotional and mental health complications.
While I offer therapy that is non-pathologizing and does not always include a diagnosis, therapy with me still typically addresses mental health or emotional complications, trauma histories, and supports insight, healing, and symptom management.
As a licensed independent clinical social worker in Washington state, I can only offer therapy to adults located in Washington state. Therapy can be covered by health insurance; as an out-of-network provider, I can offer a “superbill” with a diagnosis and procedure code which might enable partial reimbursement of therapy services dependent on plan benefits.
Therapy that’s reimbursed by health insurance must align with a model of “medical necessity” that includes diagnosis and measurable goals to decrease symptoms or improve functioning.
coaching
Coaching is not clinical support. In coaching we focus on the present situation, collaborate on a vision for the future, explore obstacles, identify action steps, and support you in moving toward your goals.
Of course I draw on all my training and experience as a therapist, educator, and supervisor to offer compassionate, grounded, effective coaching, but I especially utilize Body Trust®, somatic, parts, Circle of Security, neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ affirmative, and fat liberation frameworks in coaching.
Since coaches are not licensed, I can offer coaching to adults located anywhere. And because there aren’t a lot of helping professionals who are experienced in working at the intersection of weight stigma and family building or parenting, I’m thankful to be able to provide specialized, fat-postive support to adults growing their family or parenting children (of any age!).
Coaching is not reimbursable by health insurance. Coaching sessions are available at $250/session or $900 for a package of 4 sessions.
About Laurie
Hi, I’m Laurie (they/she). I’m a white, fat, queer, neurodivergent, currently not disabled nonbinary therapist, supervisor, consultant, educator & community builder. I am deeply committed to anti-oppressive practice and fat liberation—both personally and professionally. I bring compassion, curiosity, experience, and a strong ethical lens to my work whether you’re working with me in therapy or coaching. Some of my experience:
20+ years of supporting parents and families
14 years of parenting
20 years as a clinical social worker
10 years immersed in Health at Every Size® and fat liberation
Next Steps
If you’re interested in working together, the best place to start is a free 20-minute consultation call.
During this time, we’ll talk about what you’re hoping to work on in coaching, and I’ll share a bit more about my approach. It’s an opportunity for both of us to see whether it feels like a good fit.